Three big companies namely H&M, IndustriALL and IF Metall have converted Global Framework Agreement into a permanent collaboration. All the signatories share the belief that collaboration and a well-functioning dialogue between the parties on labour market is necessary for lasting improvements for garment workers in all working conditions. These include fair living wages, also for stable production markets, and in the end; a mature textile industry. The goal of the work is improved industrial relations where the freedom of association is respected, where workers’ representatives have a voice and where trade unions can negotiate collectively.

The collaboration within the Global Framework Agreement has led to several positive results. National monitoring committees – consisting of representatives of IndustriALL’s affiliated trade unions and H&M have been set up and trained in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Turkey. The committees support employers’ and workers’ organisations to negotiate and to solve conflicts peacefully and in good faith at the factory level. Their work contributes to functioning labour markets in the countries where H&M source its products.

Thanks to the collaboration within the Global Framework Agreement, several cases have been solved for example a conflict at a textile factory in Myanmar earlier this year which started mainly due to misunderstandings and a lack of communication between management and employees. The conflict resulted in strikes and at a later stage also a dismissal of employees. However, after negations initiated and organized by IndustriALL and H&M, all employees were rehired and a union was launched that allowed the factory to take steps towards sound industrial relations and a reduced risk of future misunderstandings and conflicts.

Support to factory level unions within the supply chain of H&M has been one key objective of the GFA between IndustriALL Global Union and H&M. Moreover, during the first year of the implementation process, there have been several new factory level unions registered.